For [there is] not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
Ver. 20. For there is not a just man upon earth.] No, this is reserved for the state of perfection in heaven, where are "the spirits of just men made perfect." Heb 12:23 It was the cavil wherewith the Pelagians troubled St Augustine, whether it were impossible that by the absolute power of God a just man might not live on earth without sin? a But what have we to do here with the absolute power of God? His revealed will is, "That there is not a just man upon earth that doth good and sinneth not"; nay, that sinneth not, even in his doing of good. Our righteousness, while we are on earth, is mixed, as light and darkness, dimness at least, in a painted glass dyed with some obscure and dim colour; it is transparent and giveth good, but not clear and pure light. It is a witty observation of a late learned divine, b that the present tense in grammar is accompanied with the imperfect, the future with the preter-pluperfect tense; and that such is the condition of our present and future holiness. Our future is more than perfect, our present is imperfect indeed, but yet true holiness and happiness. See Trapp on " Pro 20:9 "
a Aug., De Peccator. Meritis, lib. ii. cap. 7.
b Dr Stoughton, on Philippians 3:20 .